Volcanoes out to bounce back

Stung by their defeat at home, the Philippine Volcanoes consider losing the Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 title as a temporary setback.

“We’ll bounce back, it’s not over for us,” said the veteran Jake Letts after the Volcanoes handed over the trophy to Sri Lanka after a 14-27 defeat at Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan, Saturday night.

The Sri Lankan Tuskers have always been a difficult puzzle for the Volcanoes, who won their first two meetings in 2012 and 2014. The Volcanoes stole victory right in Sri Lanka’s turf in last year’s Asian 5 Nations Rugby Championship.

“Rugby is a team sport,” said Letts. “It’s not always about teams that consistently win. You’ll lose some games, but it’s about bouncing back and being able to showcase resilience.

“They’ve come over to the Philippines and shown their true character and grit. They deserved it.”

For now, the Volcanoes are determined to move on. Letts and some of his teammates will don the national colors again next month in the rugby sevens event of the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

“SEA Games is up next,” he said. “It’s a sevens competition, so it’s a different format. Lot more quicker, lot more shorter, very exciting.”

The Volcanoes won the gold in Manila 2005 but lost to Thailand in 2007. June Navarro